Healthy Living Earns Points for Blue Cross/Blue Shield Members
Since its introduction in January, more than 17,000 Floridians have joined a new Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBS) program that rewards individuals for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
MyActiveRewards is a free program for the company’s BlueOptions health plan members that rewards individuals for such things as obtaining regular physical examinations, required immunizations for children or age-appropriate screenings such as mammograms.
“We had conducted a lot of research on our members and found that many of them were eating right, exercising, involved in stress reduction and taking their recommended prescription,” said Rick Curran, BCBS spokesperson. “They also indicated that they would like some acknowledgement for doing those things and the program is an outgrowth of that.”
In the program, Jacksonville-based BCBS conducts an ongoing analysis of members’ claims to determine what rewards they should receive. MyActiveRewards members who take smoking-cessation classes, sign up for weight-loss classes or healthcare screenings can earn premiums such as exercise equipment, pedometers, cookbooks or vouchers that can be used for health-related programs and services.
Unlike airline reward programs, the incentives come as a surprise to members who never know what or when they’ll receive a cool perk in the mail, Curran said. In addition to periodic rewards, the program also provides savings on monthly walking and aerobic exercise programs, vitamins and supplements, natural therapies and nutritional products.
MyActiveRewards members also have access to an online data base that includes almost 2,000 health and wellness articles; interactive health and wellness quizzes, health calculators; and an array of nutrition and healthy eating information on topics such as herbs, vitamins, supplements, nutrition facts and healthy recipes.
The program is a win for BCBS as well since healthier members mean the company incurs less health care costs, Curran said.
Initially, BCBS mailed out brochures to announce the program to BlueOptions’ 500,000 members in Florida. It has followed through with postcard mailings to get more members to join.
“As people see the value of the program, they’ll sign up,” Curran said.
